Zdena Trinka Papers
Collection
Identifier: Mss 3
Scope and Content
The Zdena Trinka Papers consist of biographical material, a letter, several manuscripts, and material from the Shepherd Correspondence School of Contest Technique through which Miss Trinka studied for a short time in 1949. The biographical file is quite good with newspaper, magazine and book articles as well as the Who's Who Supplement sketch.
The Correspondence Series contains copies of two letters. The first one of 1944 concerns her primary campaign for the North Dakota Congressional seat with her platform attached. The second letter is to Russell Reid of the State Historical Society of North Dakota critical of his involvement in the NBC television movie on the Marquis de Mores and her book Medora.
The Manuscript Series consists primarily of a 470-page typed draft of an unpublished work entitled "Colorful Czechoslovakia." It is complete except for only several pages. It is a descriptive work on the history, towns, country and life styles in Czechoslovakia. The manuscript was written after 1940 for many of the reverse sides are drafts from her Medora. There are also some letters on the reverse sides but nothing of note. The remaining two manuscripts are copies and are each only six pages in length. "The Gift of Gifts" concerns an old man, Uncle Michael and his death. "Hitler's nearing Death," uses the Bible of Kralice to interpret the political turmoil of the late 1930s and in particular Adolph Hitler.
The Correspondence School Series consists almost exclusively of lesson materials sent to Miss Trinka in 1949. The course was designed to aid students in writing jingles and last lines for various commercial contests. Among the lesson materials are recent contest winners, winning lines, new contests, various techniques, and information on national judging agencies. The only material directly related to Miss Trinka is the payment slips and a few jingles.
The Correspondence Series contains copies of two letters. The first one of 1944 concerns her primary campaign for the North Dakota Congressional seat with her platform attached. The second letter is to Russell Reid of the State Historical Society of North Dakota critical of his involvement in the NBC television movie on the Marquis de Mores and her book Medora.
The Manuscript Series consists primarily of a 470-page typed draft of an unpublished work entitled "Colorful Czechoslovakia." It is complete except for only several pages. It is a descriptive work on the history, towns, country and life styles in Czechoslovakia. The manuscript was written after 1940 for many of the reverse sides are drafts from her Medora. There are also some letters on the reverse sides but nothing of note. The remaining two manuscripts are copies and are each only six pages in length. "The Gift of Gifts" concerns an old man, Uncle Michael and his death. "Hitler's nearing Death," uses the Bible of Kralice to interpret the political turmoil of the late 1930s and in particular Adolph Hitler.
The Correspondence School Series consists almost exclusively of lesson materials sent to Miss Trinka in 1949. The course was designed to aid students in writing jingles and last lines for various commercial contests. Among the lesson materials are recent contest winners, winning lines, new contests, various techniques, and information on national judging agencies. The only material directly related to Miss Trinka is the payment slips and a few jingles.
Dates
- 1940-1949
Creator
- Trinka, Zena Irma, 1888-1967. (Person)
Access
The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the NDSU Archives.
Copyrights
Copyrights to this collection are not held by the NDSU Archives.
Biography
Zdena Irma Trinka was born in November 15, 1892 in Bohemia, the daughter of Anton and Leopoldina (Paroubek) Trinka. The family came to the United States in 1893 and lived a short time in Idaho before coming to Lidgerwood, North Dakota. There Mr. Trinka was a tailor.
Miss Trinka attended the Lidgerwood public schools and also a ladies finishing school in Europe. In 1913 after studying library science at Valley City State College at a summer course, Miss Trinka became the first librarian at the Lidgerwood Public Library. In 1920 she became head librarian at Dickinson, North Dakota. There she began writing a chronological history of North Dakota for use in public schools resulting in two books, North Dakota of Today and Out Where the West Begins.
In 1925 she began work with the Tulare County Free Library in California. About 1936 she went to Europe on a journalistic assignment staying two years and dividing her time between Paris and Prague. The result of her stay was Jenik and Marenka, a Boy and Girl of Czechoslovakia. For this book, she was officially invited to visit Czechoslovakia in 1938. While there she escaped out of the country just prior to the German invasion.
Miss Trinka returned to North Dakota to continue her writing. In 1940 she published Medora and Home Sweet Home in 1942. The Medora book received the Eugene Field award for outstanding contribution to contemporary literature. Miss Trinka ran for Congress in 1944. In 1946 she was awarded an honorary life membership in the International Mark Twain Society. Her book A Little Village Called Lidice was published in 1947 and in 1958 she published Teddy concerning the life of Theodore Roosevelt. In 1960 she published a special centennial edition of Medora. Miss Trinka died December 6, 1967 at Breckenridge, Minnesota and was buried at Lidgerwood.
Miss Trinka attended the Lidgerwood public schools and also a ladies finishing school in Europe. In 1913 after studying library science at Valley City State College at a summer course, Miss Trinka became the first librarian at the Lidgerwood Public Library. In 1920 she became head librarian at Dickinson, North Dakota. There she began writing a chronological history of North Dakota for use in public schools resulting in two books, North Dakota of Today and Out Where the West Begins.
In 1925 she began work with the Tulare County Free Library in California. About 1936 she went to Europe on a journalistic assignment staying two years and dividing her time between Paris and Prague. The result of her stay was Jenik and Marenka, a Boy and Girl of Czechoslovakia. For this book, she was officially invited to visit Czechoslovakia in 1938. While there she escaped out of the country just prior to the German invasion.
Miss Trinka returned to North Dakota to continue her writing. In 1940 she published Medora and Home Sweet Home in 1942. The Medora book received the Eugene Field award for outstanding contribution to contemporary literature. Miss Trinka ran for Congress in 1944. In 1946 she was awarded an honorary life membership in the International Mark Twain Society. Her book A Little Village Called Lidice was published in 1947 and in 1958 she published Teddy concerning the life of Theodore Roosevelt. In 1960 she published a special centennial edition of Medora. Miss Trinka died December 6, 1967 at Breckenridge, Minnesota and was buried at Lidgerwood.
Extent
0.4 Linear Feet (0.4 linear feet)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
North Dakota native and author who escaped the Nazi invasion of Czechoslovakia while on an official visit. The Zdena Trinka Papers consist of biographical material, a letter to Russell Reid of the State Historical Society of North Dakota critical of his involvement in the NBC television movie on the Marquis de Mores and her book Medora. There is a 470-page typed draft of an unpublished work entitled "Colorful Czechoslovakia." It is a descriptive work on the history, towns, country and life styles in Czechoslovakia. The remaining two manuscripts are copies and are each only six pages in length. "The Gift of Gifts" concerns an old man, Uncle Michael and his death. "Hitler's nearing Death," uses the Bible of Kralice to interpret the political turmoil of the late 1930s and in particular Adolph Hitler.
Provenance
Donated by Father William Sherman, 1972 (Acc. 1891) and all photocopies obtained through John Wall (1980).
Property rights
The NDSU Archives owns the property rights to this collection.
- Authors -- North Dakota.
- Czech Americans -- North Dakota.
- Czechoslovakia -- Description and travel.
- Dickinson (N.D.)
- Jingles (Advertising songs) -- Writing and publishing.
- Lidgerwood (N.D.)
- Medora (N.D.)
- Reid, Russell, 1900-1967.
- Shepherd Correspondence School of Contest Technique.
- Trinka, Zena Irma, 1888-1967.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives.
Creator
- Trinka, Zena Irma, 1888-1967. (Person)
- Trinka, Zena Irma, 1888-1967. (Person)
- Title
- Finding Aid to the Zdena Trinka Papers
- Description rules
- Appm
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Institute for Regional Studies Repository
Contact:
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu